Staple-lock



(No Model.)

G. W; LEUGHTENBURG.

STAPLE LOOK.

No. 307,781. PatentedNov. 11, 18.84.

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Ihvirnn STATES ATENT tries.

G. \VILLIAM LEUOHTENBURG, OF CINCINNATI, OHIO.

STAPLE-LOCK."

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 307,781, dated November 11, 1884.

Application filed January 15), 1884. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, G. WILLIAM LEUCHTEN- BURG, a citizen of the United States, residing at Cincinnati, in the county of Hamiltoirand State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Staple-Locks,of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

My invention comprises a cheap, simple, and handy staple-lock, which is designed more especially for fastening gates, barn-doors, and other structures that do not require extra security against intruders. To accomplish this result I provide the eye, slot, or opening of the staple or other keeper with a pair of internal pockets or sockets, with which are' adapted to engage two spring-catches that pro ject laterally from the lock proper.

This lock consists ofa case or box that tapers from its upper to its lower end, so as to be readily inserted in the staple, and the instant this is done the spring-catches automatically fly out and engage with the appropriate sockets of said staple, from which sockets said catches cannot be disengaged until the proper key is applied to the lock. Furthermore, the transverse form of this downwardly-tapering lockcase and the shape of the slot or opening in the staple must be such as to compel the keyhole of the case to be presented outwardly when said case is inserted in said staple, as hereinafter more fully described.

Another feature of my invention consists in coupling the cap to the lock-case, in order that it may be readily opened or swung aside for the purpose of fitting a card or other suitable check within said case, which card is so located as to be torn or otherwise mutilated when a key is inserted in the lock. By this arrangement the device is adapted for use as a seal-lock to protect the contents of cars, Government stores, 850., as hereinafter more fully described.

In the annexed drawings, Figure l repre sents my lock detached from the staple or keeper, the latter being sectioned. Fig. 2 shows the lock engaged with said staple. Fig. 3 is a section showing. a modified form of the lock engaged with the hasp or shackle of a car-door. Fig. 4 is a similar section showing another form of thelock engaged directly with a door or gate. Fig. 5 shows the lock-case with its cap swung down. Fig. 6 shows a portion of said case with the inner plate removed therefrom. Fig. 7 shows the case arranged for use as a seal-lock. Fig. Sis an enlarged side elevation of the upper part of the lockcase.

A represents a plate, from which projects laterally the staple or other keeper, B, the latter having a suitable eye, slot, or other opening, 0, the opposite sides of which are provided with notches, pockets, or sockets 0 c. This plate has holes a for the insertion of retaining-screws; or the staple or keeper may be fastened in place in any desired manner.

Adapted to engage with the sockets c 0 0f-- staple B are the catches, dogs, or detents D D of the loclccase E, said catches being maintained in their normal or protruded position by the spring F. (Seen in Fig. 6.)

d d are the pivots upon which said catches swing. Thelock-case E preferably tapers toward its lower end, and has pivoted or other wise coupled to it atg acap, G, thelatter having a key-hole, H, of any suitable shape. Furthermore, there projects from the inner side of this cap, and near the upper end of the same, a dovetail rib, I, adapted to engage with an undercut groove, 0, of the case E, which latter has at top an eye, J, for the attachment of a rope or chain. This eye, however, may be omitted, as seen in Figs. 5, 6, 7, and 8.

Fitted within the case E is an inner plate, K, as seen in Fig. 5, the removal of which affords access to the operative parts of the lock. (Represented in Fig. 6.) This plate K has a hole, 75, through which the key must be passed before its barrel can fit over the stump L. (Seen in Fig. 6.)

As above described, the front, back, and sides of the case are supposed to be perfectly flat; but as this construction might render the lock-case liable to be inserted in the staple in such a manner as to present the keyhole H toward the plate A, some provision should be made to guard against such a contingency. One simple expedient would be to bend or bow the cap of the case outwardly, as seen at 100 -G in Fig. 3; or the same eifect would be produced by making the back of the case somewhat wider than said cap, as represented in Fig. 4, in which illustration the staple is- 5 p, in the free end of a hasp or shackle, P,

whose otherend may be coupled to the door R in any suitable manner.

In Fig. 7 a ticket or other guard or check, S, is seen fitted in the lock-case.

My lock is applied and operated in the following manner: Plate Ais first attached either to the gate-post, door-frame, or other fiXed support, T, (seen in Figs. 3 and 4,) thereby causing the staple B to project from said support, and thus permit the ready engagement of the slotted endp of link, hasp, or shackle P with said staple. This act having been accomplished, the lock E is slipped down within the eye or mortise C of the staple B and in front of the hasp or door N, the protruded catches D D readily retracting to allow free passage of said case. As soon, however, as the lock has descended far enough, said catches automatically fly out and instantly engage with the appropriate sockets c c, as repre-' sented in Fig. 2, and indicated by dotted lines in Figs. 3 and 4.

Reference to Figs. 1 and 2 shows that the sides of opening Care of the same slope as the sides of the lock-case. Consequently when the lock is engaged with the staple no space is at forded for the insertion of a pry wherewith to force the catches out of the sockets, and thereby clandestinely open said lock; hence it is apparent that the lock can be detached from the staple only by inserting the proper key in the coincident holes H 7c, and then turning said key, so as to retract the catches D D far enough to disengage them from the sockets c c, after which act the case E can be readily withdrawn from said staple.

If it should be desired to use the device as a seal-lock for railroad-cars, Government stores, &c.,such an arrangement can be effected in a few minutes by simply swinging aside the cap G, as seen in Fig. 5, and placing a suitably-inscribed card or other check or guard, S, within the case, as seen in Fig. 7. This check is placed against the inner plate, K, thereby covering its key-hole 7t, and the cap G is then swung back to its normal position preparatory to inserting thelock in the staple. W'hen thus inserted, it is evident the check S is secured between cap G and plate K, thereby rendering it impossible for any person to unlock the catches without mutilating said check, as the key must first pierce it before passing through the inner key-hole, k. the cap G is closed and a slight tap given on its right edge, the dovetail rib Iwill wedge so tightly in the undercut groove 0 as to prevent said cap accidentally opening with ordinary use; but the moment thelock is engaged with the staple the cap cannot be opened without being subjected to sufficient force to destroy the look.

In an inferior modification of the invention either one of the catches D or D may be omitted, thereby dispensing with one of the sockets c or c. Finally,the staple or other keeper, B C c 0, may be driven in the post or frame T, as indicated by the dotted lines in Fig: 4, in which event the plate A would be omitted.

I am aware it is not new to provide the case of a seal-lock with a pair of catches capable of being automatically engaged with a keeper and retracted with a suitable key, as such a construction is seen in the patent granted October 26, 1875, to A. T. Boon. Furthermore, I

When 7 am aware it is not new to construct the bolt of a seal-lock in such a manner as to insure its proper insertion in the staple, as this expedient is seen in the patent granted March 3, 1874, to J. Kinzer. Therefore my claims are not to be construed'as an attempt to cover either of the devices seen in said patents.

I claim as my invention- 1. A staple-lock consisting of the case E, having a pair of spring-catches, D D, a coupled cap, G, provided with a key-hole, H, and an inner plate, K, pierced with a secondary keyhole, 70, thereby affording a receptacle for the check S, which acts as a seal for said staple-lock, as herein described.

2. Thelock-case E, tapering downwardly 011 its opposite sides from top to bottom, and provided with a pair of automatic catches, D D, and means for retracting the same, in combination with a staple or keeper, B, whose converging opening Chas notches c c, wherewith said catches engage, the transverse form of the case E and the shape of said opening C being such as to compel the key-hole of said case to be presented outwardly, substantially as herein described.

In testimony whereof I affiX my signature in presence of two witnesses.

G. WILLIAM LEUOll'lE-NBURG.

\Vitnesses:

J AMES H. LAYMAN, S. S. CARPENTER. 

